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Northwestern, Canney Advance Past Michigan State, 4-0
May 10, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio - While both Northwestern and Michigan State entered the weekend with impressive offensive resumes it was great defensive efforts and domination in the circle that highlighted the Big Ten Tournament's first round game. Behind a complete game shutout from Eileen Canney, Northwestern pushed past Michigan State, 4-0. Zero's littered the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth when catcher Erin Dyer put the Wildcats on the board first, 2-0, by taking her first pitch by Leslie Noel over the opposite field wall. Dyer plated Nicole Pauly after the Freshman of the Year collected her first hit of the game through the right side. After striking out Cooper in the beginning of the inning, Noel bared down to strike out the side. From there, the Wildcats continued their hitting barrage by scoring two more runs in the following inning. Canney made sure that would be enough insurance as she compiled a complete game three hit shutout that included 12 strikeouts. The Wildcats were lead offensively by lead-off batter Katie Logan who contributed two hits. Spartan hurler Noel was just as impressive going the distance for the Spartans, but with no run support came away short. The junior allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out eight Wildcat batters. The defensive effort was lead by Northwestern's shortstop Tammy Williams and Michigan State's centerfielder Nikki Nicosia. Whether she was coming across the field or fielding a deep ball in the hole, Williams ate up anything that came to her. The sophomore stud accounted for six assists and a handful of plays she made look easy. Nicosia added a great diving catch on a low line drive by Jessica Miller in the second to ward of any more Wildcat threat. With the win, Northwestern improves to 44-10 and advances to face the winner of Michigan vs. Illinois in Friday's 5:30 p.m. contest. The Spartans end their season at 33-26.
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